Louisville Loop Master Plan loopmasterplan_draft_041813sm_0 | Page 65

In addition, Metro Parks is establishing a Loop Maintenance and Conservation
Committee of key representatives from the participating agencies to discuss and
resolve maintenance issues requiring consultation among participating agencies.
Among the roles established by the agreement, the Committee has been tasked to
develop:
• an asset inventory of maintenance and conservation needs
• best practices for maintenance and conservation of Loop assets
• a budget for Loop maintenance and conservation of Loop assets.
• a strategy for citizen education and volunteer involvement in Loop
stewardship activities (by working with the Friends of the Loop and other
community-based organizations.)
The committee consists of the following representatives:
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Metro Parks – Natural Areas Operations Manager
MSD – Maintenance/Operations Manager
Public Works – Maintenance/Operations Manager
Metro Parks –Volunteer Coordination Supervisor
Metro Parks – Landscaping Supervisor
Public Works – Bike/Pedestrian Coordinator
Economic Growth and Innovation – Louisville Loop Representative
Friends of the Loop Representative
Metro Parks – Liaison with Public Safety Agencies
Guiding Principles of Trail Management
The Louisville Loop is intended to serve the community as a world-class facility for
generations to come. As such, Louisville Metro and its partners as well as the Loop
Maintenance and Conservation Committee will be charged to apply best practices
of trail operations and management to ensure high-quality maintenance and there-
fore minimize safety risks to users, potential liability and unexpected costs. The
following guiding principles will help assure the preservation of the Louisville Loop:
1. Sound planning and design protects user safety and the environment.
2. Regular inspections, consistent record-keeping and systematic
maintenance ensures a quality outdoor recreation and transportation
experience.
3. A management plan reviewed and updated annually with tasks,
operational policies, standards, and routine and remedial maintenance
goals promotes a cost-effective management program.
4. A responsive public feedback system promotes public participation and
use of the Louisville Loop and discourages inappropriate use.
5. Be a good neighbor and limit impact to adjacent properties.
6. Sustainable funding assures a world-class trail system and valued
community asset.
7. A uniform plan and level of commitment among all respective agencies,
partners, and jurisdictions throughout the entire Louisville Loop System
ensures continued safety, quality, and cohesive attractiveness.
Maintenance Plan Elements
Metro Parks will work with the Loop Maintenance and Conservation Committee to
develop a detailed maintenance plan for the Loop which establishes the mainte-
nance standards adhered to and prioritizes specific activities. It will be critical to
maintain a sustainable funding level for maintenance operations in order to comple-
ment the principles stated above as well as provide the community the world-class
facility as envisioned.
Successful greenway and trail systems from other cities provide models of conven-
tional routine and remedial maintenance functions and programs. These models
should be reviewed and emulated to assure an effective and efficient maintenance
program and high-quality user experience in Louisville. Two key elements of a
management program will be to recognize the components of the Louisville Loop
system and to identify essential types of maintenance to be performed on a sched-
uled and as needed basis. This program will evolve over time as the Loop system
develops. A detailed management plan will facilitate an effective communication
system with all current and potential partners in maintaining the Loop.
By stating the Louisville Loop is part of a system, it will also be important to rec-
ognize the types of facilities or components of the Loop in the development of the
maintenance plans. Those components will be:
• Off-street shared-use trails
• Soft surface trails
• Sidepaths (located adjacent to roadways)
• Trail-related corridors (such as landscaping, vegetation and viewsheds
adjacent to the trail)
• On-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities in areas that directly connect to
the Loop (such as bike lanes, cycle tracks, and bike routes)
• Trailheads and Access Points
• Trail-related park and feature areas (integral to the trail system)
• Associated sidewalks (interconnecting with or adjacent to trails and on-
street routes)
• Associated streetscapes (such as Olmsted Parkways and connecting
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